How to Start the Day Off Feeling Great– A Nighttime Routine for Moms

Have you ever had one of those days that just started off right and kept going that way? You’re super productive, everyone is in a good mood, you eat well, you get enough rest, and you might even squeeze in a little relaxation after kiddo bedtime. Some days are the complete opposite, but I HAVE been having more of the good days lately. While my methods are hardly bulletproof, having a nighttime routine for moms does set me up for a better day the next day by being prepared and ready for the morning by spending half an hour the night before (so it’s totally doable, even if I end up binge-watching too much of the Bachelorette before looking at the clock).

The key to having a smooth morning is to prepare the night before as much as you can. Obviously not everything is going to go perfectly, but it gives you more time to have things go wrong without them pushing you into being late dropping off the kids at school, which also means you get less stressed (and can more easily stay patient) because who likes to START their day stressed and snapping at their kids? Not this girl! Giving myself as much grace as I can muster gets a lot easier knowing that I did my best to do my nighttime routine for moms the night before!

After doing my nighttime routine and getting a great night’s rest, I stick to my morning routine, too. Seriously– this thing lets us get family time, even on school mornings! Between these two, I never feel rushed or out of control and it gives me so much more patience with my kids when I’m not stressed.

A Nighttime Routine for Moms

Get Ready for Bed

I know, it seems counterintuitive to do it first. I like to make a cup of hot tea with some lemon essential oil and honey and take my Serenity Restful Complex Softgels to give them some time to kick in and help my body settle down on its own.

Declutter Your Space

Waking up to a cluttered space is miserable. You’re having to move stuff in order to make breakfast, you can’t find what you need to leave for school/work, and it just FEELS busy. You want calm, cool, and collected in the morning! So, before you go to bed, pick up any big clutter left out in the main spaces you’ll be in when you wake up– kitchen, den, breakfast area, your bathroom, and your bedroom. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you do it every night, it will seriously only take you a few minutes! If you don’t want to actually go upstairs to put it all away (or if something belongs in the sleeping children’s room), keep a basket on your stairs to put it in. That way, it’s contained and easy to take upstairs tomorrow.

Wipe It Down

Quickly spray down your counters and dining table so they’re clean for breakfast-making and breakfast-eating in the morning. It’ll also keep annoying fruit flies or ants at bay and smell fresh and happy when you wake up!

Empty and Clean Your Sink

I know, this sounds neurotic, but hear me out! An empty sink means space for breakfast dishes to be dumped by kids (no clearing the table for you in the morning– even my 1.5 year old can toss his plate in the sink!) and it just FEELS better not to wake up and immediately see dishes that need to be done. Then, once it’s empty, clean the sink! Again, I know, neurotic, but I promise it’s worth it. Your drain is where the most smells come from in your kitchen since you don’t take it out like the trash or wipe it down after meals like the countertops. Plus, it’ll keep it fresh and ready for dishes the next day. Pro tip: Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to a tablespoon of olive oil and use a paper towel to shine your sink. It’ll keep water from staying on the sink and causing those ugly water stains AND it helps it look and smell prettier!

Prep for the Morning

Get your coffee in the coffee maker (yes, even if it’s just a Keurig) with a mug underneath or beside it, pull out the toaster and bread (or if you’re doing something more involved, make sure you have all the ingredients in easy reach in the fridge/pantry), get lunches packed and in the fridge, and pick out your clothes. I also try to remember to pick out my kids’ clothes before they go to bed, but depending on how bedtime goes, that may or may not happen. Either way, the fewer decisions and steps you have to take in the morning, the more time you have to be a zombie (or find that missing shoe you SWORE you pulled out the night before, but the dog or toddler ran off with). It might even give you time to get your coffee enjoyed in peace and quiet before the kids wake up. Now THAT is what I call a reason to adopt a nighttime routine for moms!